Ramadhan

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Bismillahir-Rahman-nir-Raheem

In the Name of Allah The most Gracious The Most Merciful

The greatest of the acts of worship during this month is that of Sawm (Fast). Fasting Ramadan is the Fourth Pillar of Islam. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Islam is built on five (pillars): testifying that there is no god worthy of worship but Allah, performing Salah, paying Zakah (obligatory charity), observing Sawm during Ramadan, and making Hajj to the House (of Allah). (Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim from the Hadith narrated by Ibn `Umar; the wording is that of Muslim)

Sawm is obligatory based on the proofs from the Book, the Sunnah, and Ijma`. Proofs from the Qur’an include the Saying of Allah (Exalted be He): O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious – See V.2: 2). Proofs from the Sunnah include the Hadith narrated by Ibn `Umar that has just been mentioned above.

In addition, there is Ijma` among Muslim scholars on the obligation of observing Sawm during Ramadan. The linguistic meaning of Sawm is absolute abstention. Allah (Exalted be He) states regarding Maryam (Mary, may Allah be pleased with her), the mother of `Eisa (Jesus, peace be upon him): …say: ‘Verily! I have vowed a fast unto the Most Gracious (Allâh) so I shall not speak to any human being this day.’”

The Shar`i meaning of Sawm is to totally abstain from food, drink, sexual intercourse with one’s spouse, and whatever may break the Sawm from dawn to sunset, in obedience to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He).

Sawm has great benefits both in this life and in the hereafter, it being a means of attaining piety. Allah (Exalted be He) says: O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious – See V.2: 2). It is a shield for a Muslim against sins and a protection from Allah’s Punishment. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that he heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saying: Sawm is a shield and an impregnable protection against the Fire. (Related by Ahmad and Al-Bayhaqy in Shu`ab Al-Iman. The original Hadith is recorded in the Two Sahih [authentic] Books of Hadith [Al-Bukhari and Muslim])

Sawm narrows down the avenues through which Satan has access to people. In other words, it decreases the causes for lust that brings about one’s ruin. Ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: O young people, whoever among you can afford to get married, let him do so; for it helps one to lower the gaze and protect the private parts (i.e., remain chaste). Whoever cannot afford it, let him fast; for it is a protection for him (i.e. diminishes his sexual drive). (Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Sawm is one of the reasons that leads to Allah answering the Du`a’ (supplication). Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: There are three persons whose Du`a’ is never turned down: …the fasting person until they break their Sawm… (Related by Al-Tirmidhi)

Among all acts of worship, Sawm is distinguished with more virtues and merits that include: 1) The changed breath in the mouth of a fasting person is more fragrant to Allah than the scent of musk. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: By the One in Whose Hand lies the soul of Muhammad, the changed breath in the mouth of a fasting person is more fragrant to Allah than the scent of musk. The fasting person experiences two joys: When he breaks his Sawm he rejoices and when he meets his Lord he rejoices in his Sawm. (Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

– A good deed gets a ten-fold to seven-hundred fold reward, or many folds, except for Sawm; Allah (Glorified be He) attributed it to Himself and will give reward for it without measure. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Every good deed of the son of Adam receives a multiplied reward from ten up to seven hundred fold. Allah says: ‘Except Sawm; it is for Me and I shall reward for it.’

– There is a gate into Paradise reserved only for the believers who used to observe Sawm. It is called “Ar-Rayyan.” It was recorded in the Two Sahih Books of Hadith on the authority of Sahl ibn Sa`d (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: In Paradise there is a gate which is called Ar-Rayyan through which only the observers of Sawm will enter on the Day of Resurrection. None else will enter along with them. It would be said, ‘Where are the observers of Sawm?’ They will then enter through that gate. And when the last of them enters, it will be closed and no one else will be admitted from that gate.

These are some of the virtues of Sawm stated in the Shari`ah (Islamic law). It has other benefits stated by those working in the field of medicine and others as well, such as curing and cleansing the body from harmful substances and wastes. Prominent doctors used to prescribe it as a remedy for their patients.

The fasting person should be devout and sincere to Allah in observing Sawm properly and should expect the good reward from Allah, as it is a way to have sins forgiven. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Anyone who fasts Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward (all) his previous sins will be forgiven. (Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)